In Memory

Edward Johnston was a man of many professions. He will be remembered for his many roles as dean, dentist, astronomer, professor, and church leader. As a WWU professor, Edward’s interest in astronomy led him to start the development of an observatory. He even purchased a costume so he could impersonate Christopher Columbus. Edward was born Dec. 6, 1934, and died Jan. 10, 2007, in Minneapolis, Minn. He is survived by his wife, Pat ’58, of Lakeville, Minn.; son Martin ’87 of Saint Paul, Minn.; and daughter Linda ’86 of Lakeville.

Christensen—Barbara (DeFord) ’68 was born June 13, 1924, in Spokane, Wash., and died August 27, 2007, in College Place. Surviving: husband John ’68 of College Place; son Stanley ’77 of Walla Walla; daughters Shirley Heisey ’70 of Milton-Freewater, Ore., and Cheri Armstrong ’73 of Athena, Ore.

Coon—Duane att., was born Aug. 29, 1926, in Port Townsend, Wash., and died July 4, 2007, in Petersburg, Alaska. Surviving: wife Sharla of Petersburg; son Brenton of Petersburg; and brother Jay of Yakima, Wash.

Emmerson—Lila (Goode) ’35 was born August 25, 1915, in Rogersville, Ala., and died Sept. 7, 2007, in Walla Walla. Surviving: sons David att., of Tucson, Ariz. James att., of Neskowin, Ore., Thomas ’72 of College Place; daughter Sharon Emmerson att., of Portland, Ore., sisters Hazel Cole of College Place, and Thetis Gair of College Place.

Evans—Jeffrey att., was born Feb. 27, 1959, in Walla Walla and died Dec. 14, 2006, in Wasilla, Alaska. Surviving: father William ’59 of Anchorage, Alaska; mother Barbara att., of Anchorage; brother David att., of Long Island City, N.Y.; and sisters Cindy Sherman of Palmer, Alaska, and Linda Carleton of Anchorage.

Ford—Gloria att., was born Sept. 14, 1924, in Everett, Wash., and died March 9, 2007, in Olympia, Wash. Surviving: sons Greg Bichsel of Billings, Mont., and Gary Bichsel of Edgar, Mont.

Freund—Melvin att., was born June 10, 1927, in North Dakota, and died Mar. 11, 2007, in Napa, Calif. Surviving: wife Esther Knittel-Freund of Yountville, Calif.; son Wayne of Stockton, Calif.; and sister Marlene Freund att., of Walla Walla.

Griffin—Lyle ’48 was born August 31, 1918, in Salem, Ore., and died Mar. 5, 2007, in Salem. Surviving: wife F. Doris att., of Salem; son Ronald att., of Salem, daughters Donna att., of Arlington, Ore., and Linda Klein att., of Arlington; and sister Betty Blandini ’62 of Red Bluff, Calif.

Grogan—Dale att., was born May 22, 1918, in Milton-Freewater, Ore., and died Sept. 16, 2007, in Milton-Freewater. Surviving: sons John of Milton-Freewater, Mike of Milton-Freewater, Larry of Fairview, Ore.; daughters Margret Hershfeldt of Salem, Ore., Cheryl Boucher of Nehalem, Ore., and Sharon Wong of Nehalem.

Hanson—Otto ’44, ’60 was born Dec. 8, 1910, in Monitor, Ore., and died August, 31, 2007, in Calistoga, Calif. Surviving: wife Geneva ’60 of Calistoga; son Steve of Rogue River, Ore.; and daughter JuDee of Calistoga.

Hesser—Ernest ’53 was born Aug. 19, 1922, in Lowden, Wash., and died Oct. 10, 2007, in Walla Walla. Surviving: wife Carolyn att., of Dixie, Wash.; son John att., of Anchorage, Alaska; daughters Elizabeth James of Dixie, and Jill Gardiner of Las Vegas, Nev.; father Karl of Wasilla, Ark.; and sister Louise Bradley of San Francisco, Calif.

Hixson—Lyla (Dewey) ’47 was born March 18, 1920, in White Fish, Mont., and died May 17, 2007, in San Clemente, Calif. Surviving: son Keith Hixson ’75 of Bellingham, Wash.; daughter JoAnn Davidson of Wrightwood, Calif.; brothers Jim of Oregon, Burton of Port Angeles, Wash., and Ivan of Sequim, Wash.

Hixson--Orah Mae (Lorenz) ‘47 was born March 1, 1920, in College View, Neb., and died May 2, 2007, in Walla Walla. Surviving: husband Gerald Hixson att., of Walla Walla; sons Glynne att. of Milton Freewater, Ore., and Rollin ‘76 of Bozeman, Mont.; and daughter Jeanie ‘72 of Walla Walla.

O’Connor—Kirt att., was born Jan. 21, 1983, in Loma Linda, Calif., and died June 1, 2007, in Richland, Wash. Surviving: wife Kellie att., of College Place; father Kerry of Chehalis, Wash., mother Kathryn of Chehalis; brother Kyle curr. att., of College Place; and sister Kelly Preston att., of Chehalis.

Odell—Mythol Jane (Reiber) att., was born June 5, 1921, in College Place and died Feb. 21, 2007, in Fontana, Calif. Surviving: husband Donald ’50 of Rialto, Calif.; sons Dennis of Encinitas, Calif., and Laurence of Rialto; daughter Karen of Yucaipa, Calif.; and brother Clifford ’48 of Loma Linda, Calif.

Osborne—John ’61 was born March 23, 1910, in Lander, Wyo., and died Sept. 22, 2006, in Wenatchee, Wash. Surviving: wife Martha Osborne of Wenatchee,; son James of Klamath Falls, Ore., daughters Viki Downey of East Wenatchee, Wash., and Crystal Tschritter of Sedro Woolley, Wash.

Otter—Gordon att., was born Oct. 22, 1917, in Howard, S.D., and died Feb. 10, 2008, in College Place. Surviving: daughter Carol Dawes att., of College Place.

Schaber—Virginia ’49 was born March 12, 1920, in Portland, Ore., and died Jan. 20, 2008, in Poulsbo, Wash. Surviving: sons Donald of Poulsbo, Neil of Hollywood, Calif., and daughter Donna Ayers of Portland.